Ecology Experts

Ecology Experts

Ecosystems and Biomes

• An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their environment.

• It includes plants, animals, and microorganisms.

• Ecosystems can be large (like a forest) or small (like a pond).

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What is an Ecosystem?

• A biome is a large area characterized by its climate and ecosystems.

• There are many types of biomes around the world.

• Deserts, grasslands, and forests are three common biomes.

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What is a biome?

A habitat is the natural environment where an organism, like a plant or animal, lives and grows.

It provides the organism with food, water, shelter, and space to survive.

Habitats can be found in almost every place on Earth, from deserts to ice packs

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What is a habitat?

Multiple Choice

A _________ is a natural environment where an organism, like a plant or animal, lives and grows.

• Ecosystem

• Habitat

• Biome

• Neighborhood

Multiple Choice

A large area of Earth with a similar climate, landscape, and types of plants and animals is known as a __________.

• Ecosystem

• Habitat

• Biome

• Neighborhood

Multiple Choice

An ____________ is a community of living organisms and their environment. It includes plants, animals, and microorganisms.

• Ecosystem

• Habitat

• Biome

• Neighborhood

​What Biomes do you need to know?

Deserts: Coastal, Hot & Dry (Arid), Semiarid
Grasslands: Savanna & Temperate
Forest: Temperate, Tropical & Taiga​

Biomes of the World

Multiple Choice

Coastal deserts can be primarily found by ________________

• subtropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn,

• western coasts of continents, particularly between 20° and 30° latitude

• regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa and Australia, often located around the fringes of subtropical deserts,

• on every continent except Antarctica

• ​Deserts are a land area with very little precipitation.

• Deserts can be hot or cold.

• 3 Types of Deserts: Coastal, Hot & Dry (Arid), and Semiarid.

• Desert ecosystems are characterized by extremely dry environments with minimal vegetation

• harsh temperatures, and very little precipitation, often featuring hot and dry conditions

• but also including cold desert variations, where the primary defining factor is the lack of moisture

What is a Desert?

• deserts located near the coast with mild temperatures.

• Example: Atacama Desert in Chile.

• Unique features: influenced by ocean currents and fog.

• Receive more precipitation than other deserts, mainly from fog.

• Support unique plant life like cacti and shrubs.

• Have cooler temperatures compared to arid deserts.

Coastal Deserts

• Hot & Dry (Arid) deserts are extremely dry deserts with very low rainfall.

• Example: Sahara Desert in Africa.

• Known for high temperatures and vast sand dunes.

• Have Very little vegetation due to lack of water.

• Temperature extremes: hot during the day and cold at night.

• Wildlife adapted to survive harsh conditions.

Hot & Dry (Arid) Deserts

• Semiarid Deserts receive more rainfall than arid deserts but still have dry conditions.

  • Example: Great Basin Desert in the United States.

• Transitional environment between arid deserts and more humid areas.

• Have More vegetation than arid deserts, including grasses and shrubs.

• Generally milder temperatures with seasonal variations.

• Home to various animals, including small mammals and birds.

Semiarid Deserts

Multiple Choice

What are the temperature extremes for the hot & dry (arid) desert?

• milder temperatures with seasonal variations

• often featuring hot and dry conditions

• hot during the day and cold at night.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a type of desert?

• Coastal

• Hot & Dry (Arid)

• Taiga

• Semiarid

Multiple Choice

What kind of vegetation can be found in a semiarid desert?

• More than arid deserts: Grasses and Shrubs

• Very little vegetation: cacti & succulents

• Unique plant life: cacti and shrubs

Definition: A large area covered with grass, with few trees.
Sample Sentence: The grassland is home to many animals like bison and prairie dogs.
Two Types of Grasslands: Savannah & Temperate

Grasslands

• Savannas are grassy areas with scattered trees.

• Found in regions with warm temperatures and seasonal rainfall.

• Support a variety of wildlife including large herbivores and predators.

Savanna

• Savannas have a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.

• Average annual rainfall is between 20-50 inches.

• Temperature remains warm throughout the year.

• Dominated by grasses, with few trees and shrubs.

• Common plants include acacia and baobab trees.

• Adapted to survive in dry conditions, often with deep roots.

Savanna

• Home to animals like elephants, lions, and zebras.

• Many animals migrate in search of food and water.

• Adaptations help them survive, such as camouflage and speed.

• Temperate grasslands are found in cooler regions with moderate rainfall.

• Known for their rich soil, making them ideal for farming.

• Characterized by grasses with few trees due to limited rainfall.

Temperate Grassland

• Experience all four seasons, with cold winters and warm summers.

• Average rainfall is between 10-30 inches per year.

• Influenced by nearby mountains and deserts.

• Dominated by various species of grasses and wildflowers.

• Few trees, primarily found near rivers or streams.

• Deep-rooted plants help retain moisture in the soil.

Temperate Grassland

• Home to animals like bison, prairie dogs, and various bird species.

• Animals have adaptations for living in open spaces, like speed and burrowing.

• Important for biodiversity and ecosystems.

Multiple Select

Which are the 2 types of grasslands?

• Temperate

• Subtropical

• Savanna

• Rainforest

Multiple Select

What is an example of an adaptation Savanna animals could use to protect themselves from predators?

• Heavy Coat of Fur

• Camouflage

• Dorsal Fins

• Sharp Teeth

Multiple Select

A grassland is a biome dominant in what type of vegetation?

• Palm Trees

• Grasses

• Water

• Evergreen Trees

• Forests are one type of biome, characterized by a high density of trees.

• There are different types of forest biomes around the world.

• There are three main types: tropical, temperate, and Taiga (boreal) forests.

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Forest Biomes

• Found near the equator with high rainfall.

• Home to many species of plants and animals, including monkeys and parrots.

• Canopy layers allow different species to thrive at various heights.

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Tropical Forest

• ​Tropical forests are warm, wet environments.

• They are found near the equator.

• They receive a lot of rainfall, typically over 80 inches a year.

• Seasons are not defined by temperature but by wet and dry periods.

• There are four main layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor.

• Each layer has different plants and animals.

• The canopy is home to many birds and insects.

• ​Home to unique animals such as monkeys, sloths, and colorful birds.

• Many animals are adapted for life in trees (arboreal).

• Some species are endangered due to habitat loss.

​Tropical Forest Biomes

Multiple Choice

Where are tropical forest found?

• Near the North Pole

• Near the Equator

• In South America only

• In Texas

• Found in colder climates, mainly in Canada and Russia.

• Dominated by coniferous trees like pines and spruces.

• Provides habitat for animals like bears, moose, and wolves.

Taiga (Boreal)

• Found in a broad belt of Eurasia and North America, with the majority in Russia, Canada, and the United States. 

• Boreal forests are threatened by climate change, logging, mining, and oil extraction. 

•  major source of clean water and carbon storage. 

• Boreal forests have short, moist summers and long, cold, dry winters. Temperatures are very low, and precipitation is mostly snow.

• The boreal forest is dominated by coniferous trees like spruce, fir, and pine, with some broadleaf species like birch and poplar. The needles of these trees are narrow and have a thick waxy coating to reduce water loss.

• The boreal forest is home to many animals, including moose, bears, lynx, wolverines, beavers, and Siberian tigers. 

• Birds native to the taiga often migrate south for the winter. 

Taiga (Boreal)

Multiple Choice

Boreal Forest are also called what?

• Tropical

• Taiga

• Deciduous

• Rainforest

• Located in areas with moderate climates, like North America and Europe.

• Trees lose their leaves in fall (deciduous trees).

• Supports wildlife such as deer, foxes, and numerous bird species.

Temperate Forest

• Temperate deciduous forests are found in mid-latitude regions of the world, including eastern North America, Europe, eastern Asia, and parts of South America.

• The temperate deciduous forest is a biome that is always changing. It has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Winters are cold and summers are warm.

• Temperate deciduous forests are dominated by broadleaf trees, such as oaks, maples, beeches, hickories, and chestnuts.

• Temperate deciduous forests also include plants like mountain laurel, azaleas, and mosses. 

• Temperate deciduous forests have fertile soil, which is good for building. 

• Home to a variety of animals, including white-tail deer, gray squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, opossums, skunks, black bears, coyotes, woodpeckers, chickadees, and blue jays. 

Temperate Forest

Multiple Choice

Temperate Deciduous Forests are well known for changing seasons and for their large amount of broad leafed ___________ trees

• Deciduous

• Palm

• Cacti

• Shrubs and grasses